Friday, 28 February 2014

The Greek odyssey sets sail once more

‘Shit happens’ it says in a heart drawn in indelible pink ink at the
back of the teenage shelter in Lush Places.

And then we’re off, off on a train, the Megatrain to London from Yeovil
Junction for just £6 each and then fighting for a space, each dragging two
suitcases behind us, on a crowded carriage going to Brighton via Gatwick
airport.

The evening paper has a 72-point headline raging about the prime
minister’s broken promise on immigration. There are two olds next to me, both with beer
bellies, one with a Union flag lapel badge and the other with a backpack
emblazoned with a logo about the British Interplanetary Something. The one with the flying flag says: ‘Well,
we knew that would happen, didn’t we? Come into this country for two weeks and
then expected to be treated like a local.’

I'm strapped to the mast and not listening.

Around me, black, brown and white faces look at no-one. There is a
hubbub of voices in different languages. And then the olds get off at East
Croydon and the peppery smell of crotches leaves the train.

Next stop, Gatwick Airport and an Easy Jet plane to Athens. And then a bus all the way to Corfu.